Syrian security forces 'shoot dead 13 protesters'

Syrian security forces shot dead at least 13 protesters on Friday in the flashpoint town of Daraa, a rights activist said, as thousands rallied for democracy around the country for a fourth week.And in the city of Homs, north of the capital, an undetermined number of people were wounded in clashes between security forces and demonstrators, another activist said.After an earlier toll of seven was given for the number of deaths in Daraa, the authorities said only two people were killed.

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Syrian security services shot dead three protesters on Friday and wounded dozens more in the southern town of Daraa as thousands staged pro-democracy rallies after Muslim weekly prayers, an activist said.The three were killed when security forces in Daraa opened fire with rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse stone-throwing protesters, the rights activist told AFP by telephone, asking not to be named for security reasons.

More than 100 people were wounded as Syrian security forces fired live bullets and tear gas at thousands of demonstrators in the town of Daraa on Sunday, a human rights activist at the scene said."The security forces backed by police fired live rounds at the demonstrators, numbering more than 10,000," the witness told AFP by telephone. "They are also firing tear gas mixed with toxic products."He said tensions in Daraa, where rights groups said four demonstrators were killed in clashes with security forces on Friday, had turned the southern town into a "volcano".

Syrian security forces shot dead seven people in the southern town of Daraa on Friday as thousands of people staged pro-democracy rallies after Muslim weekly prayers, a rights activist said.The seven were killed when security forces opened fire with rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse stone-throwing protesters, the rights activist told AFP by telephone, asking not to be named for security reasons.

Syrian security forces opened fire on demonstrators Friday in the central city of Homs, killing five people and wounding several others, rights activists told AFP by telephone.Security forces opened fire to disperse protests that broke out after weekly Muslim prayers, activist Najati Tayara said.Five people were killed and some of those wounded were in serious condition, Tayara said.Thousands of Syrians rallied Friday on a "Day of Defiance" against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad across the country and several protests took place in Homs.

Syrian security forces killed 26 people at the funerals on Saturday of protesters killed in and around the southern town of Daraa the previous day, human rights activists said."Police and security services broke up peaceful demonstrations on Saturday by firing live ammunition, causing the death of 26 people," six Syrian rights groups said in a joint statement.The funerals had been held for 17 people gunned down in the southern agricultural town of Daraa, flashpoint of more than three weeks of anti-regime protests, and another 10 killed in surrounding villages on Friday.

Syrian security forces killed 26 people at the funerals of protesters killed in and around the southern town of Daraa the previous day, human rights activists said."Police and security services broke up peaceful demonstrations on Saturday by firing live ammunition, causing the death of 26 people," six Syrian rights groups said in a joint statement.The funerals had been held for 17 people gunned down in the southern agricultural town of Daraa, flashpoint of more than three weeks of anti-regime protests, and another 10 killed in surrounding villages on Friday.

HOMS, Syria (Reuters) - Waiting among a group of evacuees from Homs for questioning by Syrian security forces, Hodwan al-Masri knew he could not hide his identity."I am a known brigade commander, with my face all over social media," he said.

Anti-government demonstrations across Syria saw 24 protesters killed in clashes with security forces as thousands marched for change, the head of the National Organisation for Human Rights said.Residents in the southern city of Daraa, which has become a focal point for opponents of the regime, reported that demonstrators had been fired on, sprayed with tear gas and targeted by other violent crowd control tactics.

Syrian security forces on Wednesday fired on anti-regime protesters near a mosque, killing five and wounding scores, rights activists said as the government blamed a "gang" for the violence.The activist said security forces later fired upon mourners at the funeral of two of those killed, while an AFP correspondent reported hearing fresh gunfire in the flashpoint southern town of Daraa at around the same time.